Colerain dedicates memorial Friday

Colerain Township will dedicate its new gateway memorial at Colerain Avenue and Springdale Road May 24.

Officials wanted the corner at the heart of the community's commercial corridor to be a place everyone on the community could identify with, and on May 24, they will dedicate a memorial gateway at Colerain Avenue and Springdale Road.

The Colerain Township Memorial Plaza honors the men and women of the community who have fought for our country, served keeping the township's residents safe and in some cases, gave their lives to keep those commitments - Colerain Township police, firefighters, township workers and veterans from all U.S. service branches are included.

The dedication ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, May 24. The ceremony, planned to last about 45 minutes, will include a flag raising, short speeches by township officials, Hamilton County Commissioner Chris Monzel and Ohio State Sen. William Seitz, and Congressman Steve Chabot. There will be wreaths laid by representatives of the police and fire departments and military and public services and a ribbon cutting.

Officials say the gateway memorial is also a symbol of the revitalization of the Northgate Mall area and will be a cornerstone of progress for the community.

In 2011, Colerain Township bought the old BP gas station at the corner of Springdale and Colerain for $300,000. It was appraised at $712,000.

"The purchase of the dilapidated vacant BP gas station was one of the first investments in the area around the mall that was the spark that triggered the great things that are underway today," said economic development director Frank Birkenhauer.

The township has been talking about making the corner a gateway of some kind since 2005. Proposals ranged from a water feature to a clock tower, but the project gained traction as a possible memorial park after the deaths of two Colerain Township firefighters, Robin Broxterman and Brian Schira, in 2008. In 2011, veteran groups approached the township wanting to be part of the project, and the memorial committee began work in earnest.

Jim Acton, memorial committee member and a veteran, says he is pleased with how the memorial is turning out and proud the community has made it happen.

The township sold bonds for $1,667,000 to pay for the cost of construction and burial of utilities at the corner. When bond counsel told township officials they could use the bond funds to reimburse for purchase of the BP property as well, the township worked towards a design that allowed recovery of the money spent to buy the corner. The final design estimate came in at $1,457,487.

"As it became apparent that the bond money could not pay the entire property purchase price as well as the amenities chosen for the memorial, we were successful in getting a grant from Duke for $230,000 to secure the additional funds needed for the project," Birkenhauer said.

Area businesses and veterans also helped cover the cost. The memorial committee's contribution is expected to be almost $30,000.

"This corner is not only one of the busiest intersections in Colerain Township but the entire Tristate," Birkenhauer said. "This beautiful memorial and gateway is a tremendous tribute to our veterans and safety services who continue to protect and serve us every day."

Pavers still available

The township memorial committee is still selling memorial pavers as tributes to police, fire, and veterans of the Armed Forces. Bricks are available for purchase on the township website at www.colerain.org. Buyers may also call the township office at 513-385-7500. This round of pavers will not be installed until late summer.

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Colerain dedicates memorial Friday

Officials wanted the corner at the heart of the community's commercial corridor to be a place everyone on the community could identify with, and on May 24, they will dedicate a memorial gateway at